Synthesis of steroids



This application is a continuation-in-part of our parent application, Serial No. 598,539, filed July 18, 1956.

United States Patent This invention relates to the synthesis of valuable steroids and has for its objects the provision of: (I) an advantageous process of preparing steroids of the A 18-nor-17a-pregnatriene series having an ll-keto, 11B- hydroxy or llfl-acyloxy substituent; (II) certain new compounds useful themselves as physiologically active steroids; and (III) certain new compounds useful in the preparation of said physiologically active steroids.

The process of this invention essentially comprises: (a) interacting a 21-organic sulfonic acid ester of A pregnadiene-1lB,17u,2l-triol-3,20-dione with anhydrous potassium fluoride to yield A -pregnadiene-17a,21-oxidol1B-o1-3,20-dione; (b) oxidizing the latter, if desired, to the corresponding ll-keto derivative; (0) rearranging the llp-hydroxy derivative, either by heating with a dilute acid or by treating with hydrogen fluoride, to the corresponding A -17B-n1ethyl-18-nor-17a-pregnadiene-13a,21- oxido-1lfl-ol-3,20-dione; (d) oxidizing the Il/B-hydroxy steroid, if desired, to the corresponding ll-ketone; and (e) treating the l1fi-hydroxy-norpregnadiene with hydrogen fluoride to yield A -17B-methyl-18-nor-17apregnatriene-l1,6,2l-diol-3,20-dione, which in turn can in the usual manner be oxidized to its ll-keto derivative (after protection of the ZI-hydroxyl group by acylation), monoesterified to yield the 21-monoester or diesterified (if an llfl-hydroxy starting material is used) to yield an 115,21-diester derivative. The final A -steroids can also be prepared directly from the 17m,21-epoxide derivatives, without isolation of the rearranged intermediate, by treating the latter with hydrogen fluoride.

wherein R is hydrogen, R is ,B-hydroxy or together R and R is keto. The novel compounds of this invention also comprise intermediate 13a,21-epoxides of the general formula /CH, 9 6:0 R l I wherein R and R are as above defined.

The final products of this invention, which have utility both as mineralocorticoids (and hence may be used instead of desoxycorticosterone acetate in the treatment of Addisons disease) and as androgens (and hence may be used instead of methyltestosterone in the treatment of gonadal failure in males, or instead of testosterone propionate in the treatment of menopausal disturbances) comprise compounds of the general formula wherein R" is hydrogen, R is fi-hydroxy or B-acyloxy, or together R and R is keto, and Y is hydroxy or acyloxy. In both instances, the acyloxy substituent is preferably the acyloxy radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid having less than ten carbon atoms, as exemplified by the lower alkanoic acids (e.g., acetic acid), the lower alkenoic acids (e.g., acrylic acid), the monocyclic aromatic carboxylic acids (e.g., benzoic acid), the monocyclic aromatic lower alkanoic acids (e.g., phenacetic acid), the cycloalkane carboxylic acids (e.g., cyclopropanecarboxylic acid) and the cycloalkene carboxylic acids (e.g., cyclohexenecarboxylic acid).

The process of this invention can be illustrated by the following schematic presentation:

VIII.

To prepare the 17a,21-epoxides of this invention (Compounds I and II), a 21-organic sulfonic acid ester of A pregnadiene 11/3,17oc,21 triol 3,20 dione (e.g., a lower alkanesulfonate, such as mesylate, and an aryl sulfonate, such as tosylate) is reacted with potassium fluoride. This reaction is preferably conducted under substantially anhydrous conditions in an organic solvent of high dielectric constant, such as dimethylformarnide, dimethylsulfoxide or diethylene glycol, optimally at an elevated temperature (e.g., 120 (3.). If Compound II is desired, Compound I, initially formed, is oxidized in the usual manner, as by treatment with a hexavalent chromium compound (e.g., chromic acid) to yield the corresponding ll-keto derivative.

7 The 1lfl-hydroxy-17a,21-epoxide can then be rearranged to the 18-nor-17a-pregnadiene derivative by either heating with a dilute acid (HA), such as dilute miner-a1 acid as exemplified by dilute sulfuric acid, the heating being preferably done in the temperature range of about 60 C. to about 100 C., or by treatment with hydrogen fluoride in an organic solvent at a low temperature (e.g., below room temperature) for a short period of time (e.g., about 30 minutes). The reaction results in the formation of A pregnadiene 17,3 methyl 18' nor- 1711 pregnadiene 1301,21 oxido 11,8 ol 3,20 dione (Compound III), which can be oxidized in the usual manner to the ll-ketone (Compound IV), or treated with hydrogen fluoride for more than thirty minutes to yield A 17B methyl 18 nor l7a pregnatrienellfl,2l-diol-3,20-dione (Compound V). If an llfi-hydroxy steroid is employed as a starting material and an ll-keto steroid is desired, the initially resulting 11,8- hydroxy steroid can be oxidized with chromic acid (after protection of the 21-hydroxyl group as by monoacetylation) to the ketone (Compound V1). To prepare 21- esters, the llfl-hydroxy steroid is reacted with an acylating agent such as an acid anhydride or an acyl halide (e.g., acetic anhydride or benzoyl chloride) in the presence of a tertiary base (e.g., pyriidne). The nature of the ester derivative will depend on the mole ratio of esterifying reagent to steroid. If a one to one mole ratio is used, then a 2l-monoester is formed; if, however, two or more moles of acylating agent is employed per mole of steroid, then an 11,8,21-diester is the product.

The A -steroid can also be formed directly from the 17a,21-epoxy steroid (without separation of the initial rearranged intermediate) by treating the latter with hydrogen fluoride for more than thirty minutes.

The following examples illustrate the invention (all temperatures being in Centigrade):

EXAMPLE 1 A -pregnadiene-I 761,21-xid0-11B-ol-3,20-di0ne (I) A solution of 1 g. of A -pregnadiene-11,8,17ot,21- triol-3,20-dione 21-mesylate and 1.0 g. of anhydrous potassium fluoride in 50 ml. of dimethylsulfoxide is heated at 110 with stirring for 24 hours. After cooling, the mixture is diluted with ice water and the resulting precipitate (about 570 mg.) filtered off and washed with water. The precipitate is separated by extraction with hot chloroform into the chloroform-insoluble 21-fluoro- A pregnadiene 115,170 diol 3,20 dione and the chloroform-soluble A pregnadiene 1711,21 oxido- 11,3 ol 3,20 dione. The chloroform soluble fraction about 365 mg.) is dissolved in 4 ml. of chloroform and 8 ml. of benzene and chromatographed on 7.3 of acidwashed alumina. A mixture of 1 part chloroform and 2 parts benzene (450 ml.) elutes about 220 mg. of A pregnadiene 171:,21 oxido 11p ol 3,20 dione, which after recrystallization from 95% alcohol has the following properties: M.P. about 243-244"; [541 +182 (c., 0.48 in chloroform);

Analysis.-Calcd. for C I-I 0, (342.42): C, 73.66; H, 7.66. Found: C, 73.58; H, 7.48.

EXAMPLE 2 A -pmgIIadieMe-Z 7a,21-0.ri11'0-3,11 ,20-11'1'0112 (II) To a solution of 150 mg. of A -prenadiene-17a,2loxido-11B-ol-3,20-dione (I) in 20 ml. of acetone is added with stirring at room temperature 0.3 ml. of a solution of 200 mg. of chromic acid and 320 mg. of sulfuric acid in 1 ml. of water. After 20 minutes, a few drops of alcohol are added; and after the addition of 5 ml. of water, the acetone is removed in vacuo. The residual suspension is extractedwith chloroform and the chloroform extract washed with water, sodium bicarbonate and again with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The crystalline residue of the ll-ketone (II) after recrystallization from alcohol has the following properties: M.P. about 236-237; [04],; +249 (c., 1.00 in chloroform);

A357,, 237 mu (6 16,200); k353i? 5.0214, 5.870, 6.0411, 6.1811,

Analysis.Calcd. for C H O (340.42): C, 74.09; H, 7.11. Found: C, 74.22; H, 7.06.

. EXAMPLE 3 A 17,3 methyl l8 nor 17a pregnadiene 13a,

. 21-0xid0-11fi-0l-3,20-di0ne (III) Analysis.Calcd. for C H O (342.42): C, 73.66; H, 7.66. Found: C, 73.56; H, 7.67.

EXAMPLE 4 A 17,3 methyl 18 nor 17cc pregnadiene 1311,21- 0xid0.-3,I1,20-tri0ne (IV) 238 mg. of A -17,3-methyl-18-nor-l7a-pregnadiene- 13a-21-oxido-11,9-ol-3,20-dione (III) is oxidized in 20 ml. of acetone with mg. CrO as described in Example 2. The resulting ll-ketone (IV) after recrystallization from 95% alcohol'has the following properties: M.P. about 192494"; [011 20 (c., 1.35 in CHCl mg; 210 111,, 15,400 x511 no OH, 5.73, 5.815.85, 6.00,

Analysis.Calcd. for C H O (340.40): C, 74.09; H, 7.11. Found: C, 74.40; H, 6.93.

EXAMPLE 5 A1343 methyl l8 nor 17oz. pregnatriene 11,8, 21-di0l-3,20-di0ne (V) Into a solution of 200 mg. of A -pregnadiene-17a, 21-oxido-11fl-ol-3,20-dione in 19 ml. of chloroform and 1 ml. of alcohol is passed at 0 with stirring hydrogen fluoride gas until two layers develop. The resulting mixture is allowed to remain at 0 for 1 hour and 20 minutes and is then neutralized by the addition of an aqueous suspension of sodium bicarbonate. The layers are separated and the chloroform phase washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residue (about 220 mg.) is dissolved in 5 ml. of chloroform and 10 ml. of benzene and chromatographed on 4 g. of acid-washed alumina. Elution of the column with chloroform-benzene 1:2 (500 ml.) and 1:1 (300 ml.) produces crystalline material (about 117 mg.) which after recrystallization from acetone-hexane has the following properties: M.P. about 196198 after prior melting at 157-158 and resolidification; [011 +181 (c., 1.10 in CHC1 Analysis.Calcd. for C H O (342.42): C, 73.66; H, 7.66. Found: C, 73.85; H, 7.42.

When the above reaction is run for a period of V2 hour, A -17,B-methyl-18-nor 17a pregnadiene-13a,2l-oxido- 11,6-ol-3,20-dione is isolated as the major reaction prod not by recrystallization from acetone.

A -17,8-methyl-18-nor-17a-pregnatriene-1 1;3,21-diol 3,20-dione can also be prepared from A -17/3-methyl-18- nor-17a-pregnadiene-13a,21-oxido-1lfl-ol-3,20-dione, as illustrated by the following example:

EXAMPLE 6 A -17,8-methyl-I8-nor-1 7a-pregnatriene-1l 3,21-dil- 3,20-dione (V) A solution of 20 mg. of A -l7fi-methyl-18-nor-17upregnadiene-13a,21-oxido-1lfl-ol-3,20-dione in 19 ml. of chloroform and 1 ml. of alcohol is treated with hydrogen fluoride, as described in Example 5. The reaction prod not, upon recrystallization from acetone-hexane, gives pure A -17fi-methyl 18-nor-17a-pregnatriene-115,21- diol-3,20-dione (V), identified by infrared comparison with an authentic sample.

Compound V can be esterified and oxidized by pro cedures illustrated in the following three examples:

EXAMPLE 7 A -17fi-methyl-18-n0r-I 7u-pregnatriene-11,6,21-diol- 3,20-a'i0ne 21-acelate (VII) 76 mg. of A -I7B-methyl-l8-nor-17a-pregnatriene- 11,8,21-diol-3,20-dione is dissolved in 1.92'ml. of a solution containing 11.6 mg. of acetic anhydride in 1 ml. of pyridine. After 15 hours at room temperature, the re agents are removed in vacuo and the residue dissolved in 6 ml. of benzene and 3 ml. of hexane. Chromatography on 2 g. of acid-washed alumina produces about: 75 mg. of crystalline material in the benzene eluates (500 ml.) and in the chloroform-benzene eluates 1:9 (300 ml.), which after recrystallization from acetonehexane and drying at 100 in vacuo has the following properties: M.P. about 157-158"; [a] ,+179 (c., 0.53 in CHCl max.

Analysis.Calcd. for C H O (384.45): C, 71.85; H, 7.34. Found: C, 71.95; H, 7.40.

EXAMPLE 8 A -17fl-methyl-18-n0r-17m-pregnatriene-21-0l- 3,11,20-tri0ne 21 -acetate (VI) dried over sodium sulfate and the solvent removed in vacuo. The residue, upon crystallization from acetonehexane, furnishes A -17;3-methyl-18-nor-l7a-pregnatriene-2l-ol-3,11,20-trione 21-acetate (VI).

Compound VI can be saponified in the usual manner, as by treatment with potassium carbonate in methanol, to yield the free 21-hydroxy steroid.

EXAMPLE 9 A -1 7B-methyl-1 8-nor-1 7oc-pregnatriene-1 1 6,21 dial-3,20-di0ne 1 1 3,21 -diacetate (VIII) Acetylation of 15 mg. of A -17fi-methyl-18-nor-17apregnatriene-l113,21-diol-3,20-dione with 0.5 ml. of pyridine and 0.5 ml. of acetic anhydride at room temperature produced, after removal of the reagents, an amorphous diacetate,

touch n0 OH, 5.77, 0.00, 6.15, 6.22,.

In 3X.

The invention may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A compound selected from the group consisting of A -17fl-methyl-18-nor-17or-pregnadiene-13oz,21-oxido 11;3-ol-3,20-dione and A -17B-methyl-18-nor-17a-pregnadiene-13 a,21-oxido-3,11,20trione.

2. A compound of the general formula C HY R -GH,

References Cited in the file of this patent Hirschmann et a1.: J.A.C.S. 78, September 20, 1956, page 4814.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,895,954: July 21, 1959 Josef Fried et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numberedipatent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, lines 35 to 45, the right-hand formula should appear as shown below instead of as in the patentcolumn 3, line 29, for pyriidne read -pyridine-; line 57, for on 7.3 of read on 7 .3 g. of-; column 5, line 16, for 20 mg. read -200 mg.-.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of December 1959.

Attest: KARL H. A NE, ROBERT c. WATSON, Attestz'ng ofiver- Commissioner of Patents. 

1. A COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF $1,4-17B-METHYL-18-NOR-17A-PREGNADIENE-13A,21-OXIDO 11B-OL-3,20-DIONE AND $1,4-17B-METHYL-18-NOR-17A-PREGNADIENE-13A,21-OXIDO-3,11,20-TRIONE.
 2. A COMPOUND OF THE GENERAL FORMULA 